Path to victory: Kentucky basketball’s low stack play

Kentucky basketball fans should realize by now that John Calipari has added a new offensive play for this season. This season he has added a low-stack scheme as well.

Kentucky basketball fans should realize by now that Coach Cal has added a new offensive play this season. Most seasons, Calipari marches out the same offensive schemes year in and year out. His “circle” has a shooter running off of low block screens on each side of the floor. Calipari’s weave play into a pick-and-roll that usually finishes with a lob dunk for a big man. This season he has added a low-stack scheme as well. BBN needs to know that this play is Kentucky’s path to victory, and here’s why:

Calipari’s consistently uses his “circle” play during the last 4 seasons. Each of the last 4 years, I have attended Calipari’s Coaches Clinic and have seen firsthand the Kentucky basketball team work on this play.

Jamal Murray and Malik Monk are two players that were often the beneficiary of this play. Murray and Monk typically found themselves open on the wing for a three-point shot or a shot-fake and drive opportunity. For Murray and Monk, this was a great play because of how consistently they knocked down outside shots.

While Kevin Knox can shoot, he has NOT been as consistent as Murray and Monk. So that’s why the “circle” play hasn’t been as useful this year; it relies on a consistent outside shooter. Knox just hasn’t been consistent enough.

Calipari’s weave play has been really effective the last several seasons as well. The three perimeter players run a dribble weave up top, and then a post player sprints up and sets a ball-screen. In years past, this has been a phenomenal play for Tyler Ulis, De’Aaron Fox, and Andrew Harrison.

The Cats were able to spread the floor with shooters, and had a point guard that could scoring in multiple fashions. It also takes a big man that can go score too. Quade Green has struggled to create off ball-screens, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is effective but the Cats have struggled to spread the floor with shooting threats. When teams converge on SGA, or when teams hedge the ball-screen, it’s been difficult for the Cats to score.

Calipari, who is often criticized (I’m guilty here) for his X’s and O’s strategy, tweaked the offensive game plan for this team. Coach Cal has a potential lottery pick in Kevin Knox and opponents have to focus on him. He also has a mismatch problem for opponents in PJ Washington.

Calipari decided to put these two players together on the low block. Calipari uses Washington as a screener for Knox and puts the defense in the difficult spot of having to guard this low screen. It provides Kentucky with the possibility of Knox hitting a jump shot and Knox attacking the rim. It also gives the Cats an opportunity for PJ to be isolated one-on-one in the post for a great chance to score. The Cats will take what the defense gives them here.

If Knox’s defender tries to chase Knox around the screen, then he is going to be wide open in the paint for an easy bucket. But if Knox’s defender tries to cheat the screen and jump into the paint, Knox will “flare” the screen and cut away from the paint. In this case, Washington will re-screen Knox’s defender to allow Knox to shoot an open baseline jumper.

Now if PJ’s defender tries to help on the screen and bump Knox, then PJ will immediately look for post position in the paint. Knox will continue to cut through the paint, taking his defender with him. Because PJ’s defender momentarily left, the defender is now out of position to guard him. This means the Kentucky forward will dive into his defender and pin him for a chance at an easy bucket.

This low-stack play has been incredibly successful for the Kentucky basketball team throughout the season. It has worked the best with Quade Green as the shooting guard in the game. With Green in, playing on the wing during this play, his defender can’t help because Quade is a shooter.

If his man was to help on the low-stack play, Quade gets a wide open 3-point shot attempt. The passer to the low-stack option has typically been one of UK’s post players, like Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones. However, recently Jarred Vanderbilt, because of his passing versatility, has been the key passer in this play.

When the Cats need a bucket and SGA has been solid, Calipari keeps the ball in his hands to score. But when Shai has struggled or when PJ or Kevin are having solid games, this is becoming Calipari’s “go-to” play. Keep your eyes glued to the TV BBN. You’ll be seeing plenty of low-stack play from the Cats down the stretch!